Mercy

Mercy

(A sad poem. We need more friends. More kindness.)

Young black man.
22 year old.
He sat alone and ate alone in the mess hall for many days.
I watched him and wondered why?

I knew great pain and understood his face and eyes.

I started to sit with him.
He said nothing for many meals.
Other Soldiers said he was crazy.

One morning at breakfast.
He looks at my eyes direct.
He told me.
“Some of the poor men were still alive at Death valley. They were still breathing.
Pieces of bodies speaking in a foreign language. I held so many of them. All I could do is listen.”

His eyes filled with tears. He asked me.
“Was there any purpose for this war?”

I looks at his sad eyes. I told him.
“You did all you could. Mercy of someone hearing your last words allow the poor men
to move to the next place with the vision a kind heart. Not the bloody shit of war.”

He got very quiet for a time. He whispers.
“All I see is death and blood in my dreams. I can’t see any good in my life now. What can I do?'”

I took him to Virginia beach. Not many people in the late months of winter.
I made him drink many long Island ice teas.
We drank till we could barely see anymore.

We wandered down to the Virginia shoreline.
He watched the Atlantic dance on the shore.

He turns to me. Asked me? “What the fuck are you trying to do to me?
Why don’t you leave me alone?

I passed the whiskey to him.
I told him. “We have been lied to. No-body care if people live or die. We were just mercenaries for money and oil. Let’s scream to the Gods. Lets scream into the wind. Tell the world to f-off. Then maybe we can find the mercy to forgive ourselves.”

He gave me a big smile. Told me. “You are damn crazy.”

He stood up and started to run down the ghostly night beach.
Screaming and crying.
He ran into the sea.
Yelling ‘kill me, end my bloody life.”

I swear I saw someone with him.
I tossed my wallet to the sand.
I went into the cold sea to get him.
He was waiting for me.

I wrapped my arms around him.
He smiles and told me. “I’m Ok.
I know I must forgive myself.

He turns and looks me in the eyes.
He whispers. “Thank you for the mercy of your friendship. No-one came when I was alone and afraid. I prayed for forgiveness. You forced me to face my life.”

He looks at the morning sun rising from the east. Told me. “I’m done with the Army. I won’t touch a gun or hurt another person.”

A month later at the Greyhound bus station he was going home. I went to shake his hand. He grabbed me and gave me a bear hug. Kissed my forehead. He told me.
“Mama will heal me with her love. Baby sister will insure I’m alright. And I remember your face and what you gave me. You gave mercy to a man in need.”

Gritty, real, earthy. What life is all about. Reaching out to others for salvation, healing & grace beyond. This was a slice of humanity and I walk away with another moment of hope in my heart. Thank you John for being an honest poet. —ginger

My older brother and my daddy are both veterans of this endless middle east war we’re in — I mostly grew up without them waiting for them along with my mom… deployed and deployed again. My daddy came home ok, my brother is not so okay – this poem about the black guy is also about them. War doesn’t know color because death doesn’t discriminate. I’m so glad you made it home ok and doing well, John.

Just write what you believe in. Read other and befriend other writers. We are here to learn and improve. I believe writing need open mind and free pen. Remember have hard skin. You will not make all people happy.

Reblogged this on Thoughts of Words and commented:
A beautiful poem I came across while going through fellow blogger friend John Coyote…it has capture relation between two persons beautifully…and in enigmatic way…

Not to mention John Coyote…can you pls go through my That Night When The Valley Sleep & Triptych of Romance…they are sort of War Poem…it will be grateful of yours if you let me know your reviews on them & point out where i hav gone wrong or you think I have

Beautiful. Being x military myself, I can relate. Being human and having lived many experiences, I can relate. Beautiful sharing of giving kindness and gratitude for receiving such kindness. Thank you.

This is beautiful because of the fact that something that one would think should be ordinary, the act of kindness, is in fact something that is rare unordinary.

In a way this story speaks of human nature and genuine foundation, but it goes a step further, it speaks of these things from a perspective of someone who chooses to care and try to better people, the world, and the things around them.

Human nature is a sword that we use to carve instinct and casual choices/routine with. The unfortunate factor is that for some…this sword has become dull and they have lost their fire/will to push forward (the man that you interacted with), others make poor choices and cause suffering, which tilts the balance of good things and creates hardship, and then there are the people like yourself, the ones who try to build things, survive, and make choices in hope that the act of kindness can someone cause others to see that it’s not too late to work together toward making a better world.

Words that are of truth radiate emotion in a way that fictional tales are incapable. Well-written, and I admire the person that you are.

For 45 years. I always like to read and write. I started writing on a school newspaper. Most of my story is based on truth. Mercy is a real story. This man was part of a team that cleaned up Death Valley in the first Iraq war. Messed him up.

A lot of suicide in the military. Many reasons. Young couples have problems. When Soldiers are deployed for too long. Problems can happen. I believe need another soldier to help another soldier. Hard for someone to understand someone who had to do things they shouldn’t have to do.

John, you are an extraordinary story teller. I always enjoy reading your memories/writings/poems and they always touch me –each piece in a different way. Your words reflect the beauty of your soul. Thank you for sharing.

I was captivated by this poem. You offered hope, yet depicted the hopeless, torn apart, angry, desperate, lifeless, bloody anger that war drives into us. This treacherous war, fought over money, rips us to shreds and leaves our souls hanging to rust.

But you showed a merciful friend- a friend who reminded this man of love and past wonders. A theme in much of your poetry is hope. Often it is another human who brings the lost one back to his senses.

I also loved how you spoke of the desire for money leading to war. That is the big picture, but near the end of the poem, the man tosses his wallet- which is an well-placed allegory. In one small step, the man leaves his money and other cares of this world to help his newfound, Dying-within friend. In doing so, he has won the greatest war in life- loving anther as much as yourself.

Truly, he won the war that was being fought.

I posted Chapter 11, Coyote. I hope you like it. 🙂 Let me know what you think. I always love your input.

thanks john. mercy for ourselves and for others. this past year has been a rough one, tore the heart out of a poet friend because of jealousy, the trouble is anger/hate only comes back to you twice as big and so i dropped off the poetry scene even changed my name on Facebook, so yes i need a bit of mercy for myself..cheers

John – thank you for telling this story. It needed to be told. War is not pretty, never will be. But in order for this story to be told, there had to be a war. Out of war came a beautiful story of love and kindness and compassion for another human being. We have lessons to learn in this life, some of them very painful and some of them enchanting. The roles you and your “friend” played in this story are a lesson for us all.

Thank you for sharing! My heart goes out to those who fight somebody else’s war. I think this guy needs more friends. He is a survivor too, and his poetry is amazing. Could you check out? http://charlypriest.wordpress.com/

Thank you. War make us understand each of us is different. I survived war and learn regret when friend did not come home alive. It is sad we send our young to war. Should be enjoying life. Not fighting war. Thank you for reading and the comment.

My heart is just so heavy and sad still today from writing my poem on war. Again another day I spend in Nature and today, I shall be with my camera as well. So many women with broken hearts in this world, as they live with their men, so broken from war. (((HUGS)) Amy

The only way I will be able to continue, is to again get immersed in my flowers. I fell hard this time, John, writing the war poem. People who have not been exposed to war, do not know the tolls. I will shake off this sadness, and I will again get back on the Horse of Love and Peace. May Peace be with you today. Love, Amy

Weeping. I pray Mercy comes in some form to my husband. I am too close. Oh what I would give to see this man forgive himself. Thank you, John, BLESS you! I am focusing on LOVE mostly at Petals and you here are embracing the Truth in another way. Together, may our Work dispel all darkness that has captured the broken in heart and mind. May you BE Blessed for what you do. Love, Amy

Real life can be more scary and sad than fiction. Military had 10 time the norm for suicide. Teach men and women war and than expect them to forget and move on. Some folks can’t. Thank you for reading and the comment.

I am very particular about grammar. There are grammatical errors in your poetry. For once, I do not care. The thought, feelings and emotions – I can feel is resonating inside me. The raw and powerful writing style surpasses mundane things such as grammar. I wish to understand you, because you have experienced deeply and it shows. I am truly honored to have you following my blog. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for having the courage to pen down your inner demons and share them with the world. It takes a different kind of courage, and one which very few can fathom. You will forever have my respect.

I do need more patience when writing. Tenses seem to roam around. I believe take another Soldier to help a soldier. Same with someone who survived cancer. A kind voice who had suffered and lived can help another. I appreciate your kind words. I was saved by a woman with three children. I have no time for pity. Thank you for reading.

Men who saw the worst desired the end of wars. Many survivors are speaking against Israel. It is sad when the sheep become the wolf. We need peace in our world for the sake of all children. Thank you for reading and the comment.

John – As always, you capture the complete story within your poetry. I felt the anguish, the upheavel and above all your friend wondering if he could live with himself in the future. I love your poetry – straight from the heart with a little gut thrown in.

Thank you for reading. I was a Soldier for 15 years. I learn every man is different. War didn’t effect me till I came home and friends I left in the service started to die. I believe writers need to express the truth. Dirty or clean. The truth need to be set free. I hope all is well with you?

I love this story poem, it is so beautiful, so moving. I shows the power of kindness, and how badly war can damage the human spirit, until only love can heal. We should all love one another, we should all be the ‘crazy’ ones. Your words are a blessing to the world, I hope you keep sharing them.

Reblogged this on Shapeshifters and commented:
This story/poem reminded me of the soldiers and what they see and the death and horror they experience. I’m just shaking my head because I don’t what to say.

We must help each other. Soldiers do a lot for each other in war and peace. I was not effected by war till a friend of 15 years was killed in Iraq. I learn the pain of war when I had to stand with his family at his funeral. Some men get bruise and damaged by what they do in the military. Some do not get effected. I appreciated the comment..

I had the poem put away for years. Some topics are hard to write down till years later. I wish we had more mercy and kindness in our world. Food, water and medicine can take away years of fear and hate. Thank you for the comment.

Your words touched my soul…like another Soldier long ago…a rebel of the world…bringing chesed (mercy in Hebrew) to His army with outrageous new ways of thinking. ” Nothing is beyond or outside My Master and Commanders ways…nothing!” People celebrated…drunk on wine…He doubled it up!

You are a Warrior of Christ sir, and I am honored to read your testimony! Go with God Brother!

Your writing awakened this translation of TuFu’s (712-770) writings about war during the Tang Dynasty, “Countries may fall, but their rivers and mountains remain: when spring comes to the ruined castle, the grass is green again.” thank you

Powerful and moving writing. Thanks for dropping by and following Dancing on Frozen Beaver Ponds… it gave me an opportunity to discover and now follow your work. There is a raw depth and sincerity to your words that is… I don’t know… quite awesome. Thanks.

like any other pain in life.. only someone who knows it can help..truly..deeply..this moved me in ways unspeakable. It restored a small hope in my shattered self of manhood that still exists, not afraid to be tender to care and best yet to his fellow man. its truly heart warming for lack of sufficient wording

Rolling down tears are just to say thank you for awakening and reminding the pain of the soldiers. I am widow of a soldier and know very well of the aching heart and the helplessness of the soldier and the loved ones back. you can read about my husband and see his picture too in one of my blogs. the title is, In memory of major Rauf

Wow. That is beautiful. Thank you for sharing… Just for fun, I’m doing this… I have found your blog to be quite “lovely” and nominated you for the “One Lovely Blog” award. Go to blog.joytours.com to check out the rules! Congrats on all your success and beautiful writing!

Yes, we do in deed need many friends in life. I just wish more people would wake up to what is is going on. It’s all about greed and “we” are the cannon fodder…or like “they” who are in power have coined the phrase, “collateral damage.” Thank you so much for your postings.

Hi,
Just letting you know that I have nominated your blog for a ‘Super Sweet Blog Award’. If you choose to participate the rules could be found here: http://wp.me/p2v1s2-vt
All the Best!
Daniela of the Lantern Post

Thanks for following one of my blogs, foundinfrance. It gave me the opportunity to find you blog now back to reading it. 🙂
Since you are a poet, you might like to check out my other blog, http://poetryphotosandmusingsohmy.wordpress.com

Nothing wrong with a little pretend in poetry, either. Honesty just needs more air time. Bukowksi wrote with absolutely brutal honesty…like he did in “Raw with Love”. That would make a lot of women uneasy, but it didn’t make him a woman abuser.